On 15 January 2026, JPMorgan outlined an outlook in which institutional and corporate investors, rather than retail traders, play an increasingly dominant role in the crypto market. The bank estimates that digital assets drew nearly $130 billion in fresh capital during 2025 and expects inflows to persist or accelerate in 2026 as clearer U.S. regulations and large treasury buyers reshape the landscape.

On 15 January 2026, Pakistan began testing World Liberty Financial's USD1 stablecoin as a regulated option for cross-border transactions, running in parallel with its planned digital rupee. The initiative comes as the country advances broader digital finance reforms, including a central bank digital currency pilot, draft crypto regulation and preliminary approvals for major exchanges. Officials and critics are debating whether rapid adoption of tokenized assets and stablecoins could heighten volatility and affect perceptions of Pakistan's sovereign risk.

On 14 January 2026, an overview of central bank digital currencies, stablecoins, and tokenized bank deposits outlined how each format targets distinct users and use cases across the financial system. CBDCs aim at domestic monetary stability, stablecoins support global on-chain liquidity, and tokenized deposits help banks move existing balances onto blockchain infrastructure. Rather than one model replacing the others, they are expected to coexist as complementary rails in an increasingly digital monetary environment.

On 14 January 2026, Figure Technology Solutions detailed plans for its On-Chain Public Equity Network (OPEN), a system where companies issue native blockchain-based shares instead of tokenized representations. Built on the Provenance blockchain, OPEN lets investors hold, trade, and lend equity directly via digital wallets while reducing traditional intermediaries and targeting use cases such as crypto-heavy public companies seeking tighter alignment with underlying asset values.

Broad gains extended the cryptocurrency rally, lifting total market capitalization back above $3.2 trillion. According to market data, the value reached roughly $3.28 trillion with a daily increase of more than four percent as Bitcoin traded near $96,900 and Ethereum advanced toward $3,350. Bitcoin dominance stayed close to 59 percent, while altcoins showed participation without a full rotation.

On 14 January 2026, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the network has finally reached the goals first set out in 2014, following its transition to proof-of-stake and the rise of ecosystem-led scaling. He argued that layer-two solutions, messaging networks like Waku, and storage tools such as IPFS have collectively completed the broader Web3 technology stack, while Ethereum itself moves toward long-term stability with fewer disruptive base-layer changes.

On 14 January 2026, the UK government confirmed it has abandoned plans to make a single, state-issued digital identity mandatory for all workers, instead keeping digital right-to-work checks while making any future national ID optional. Critics had warned the centralized system could enable excessive state control and create cybersecurity risks, and the policy reversal comes as wider global debates continue over how digital ID, CBDCs, and DeFi rules should balance privacy with regulatory oversight.

On 14 January 2026, Strive said it will acquire Semler Scientific in an all-stock deal approved by Semler shareholders. The move transfers more than 5,000 BTC and follows a 123 BTC purchase at slightly above $91,500, lifting standalone holdings near 7,750 BTC, with the combined total expected close to 12,800 BTC.

On 13 January 2026, Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott released an updated Digital Asset Market Clarity Act draft clarifying that usage-based stablecoin rewards do not trigger securities or deposit status. The text permits incentives for payments and network activity, but bars interest for simply holding. The Senate Agriculture Committee postponed broader markup until the final week of January.